Producer gas recuperator furnace



1932- w. A. MORTON PRODUCER GAS RECUPERATOR FURNACE Filed Feb. 8, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR m Q.M.,

Patented Feb. 9, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM A. MORTON, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMGO COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA PRODUCER GAS RECUPERATOR FURNACE Application filed February 8, 1929.

This invention relates to recuperator furnaces, particularly adapted for glass tanks or the like, and it is among the objects of the invention to provide a recuperator furnace structure in which the fuel, such as heated raw producer gas, is superheated by the waste gases and the preheated air from the recuperator.

In the manufacture of glass, raw coal gas is commonly employed and is the most satisfactory and economical fuel for large recuperator furnaces. The raw gas is conducted through a gas main to the charging or rear end of the glass tank at which end the preheated air from the recuperator also enters.

In accordance with the present invention the raw coal or producer gas is adapted to be superheated by the waste gases from the recuperator whereby the gas is preheated before entering the furnace.

In the accompanying drawings constituting a part hereof, and in which like ref- .erence characters designate like parts, Fig.

1 is a sectional plan view of a glass tank and recuperator; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof; Fig. 3 is a crosssectional view of the recuperator taken along the line III-III, Fig. 2; Fig. a is an enlarged detail view in .cross .section showing the recuperator dome, the raw gas main connection and one end of the glass melting furnace; Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VV, Fig. i; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VIVI, Fig. 4; illustrating the valve in the gas main.

Referring to the several figures of the drawings, the structure therein illustrated comprises a glass melting furnace 1, a recuperator generally designated at 2, a passage 3 leading from the furnace to the recuperator through which the waste gases leave the furnace 1, air passages 4 leading from the dome 5 of the recuperator, which is divided into separate compartments 6 as shown in Fig. 3 for the purpose of regulating the volume of air passing to separate openings of the furnace; and a divided gas passa e 7 adjacent the air passages 4 through Serial No. 338,465.

which the raw coal or producer gas is conducted to the furnace.

The recuperator is constructed of flanged tile 8 and flue tile 9 which constitutes a checker work structure forming passages for the waste gases leaving the furnace which enter through the passage 3 and travel back and forth through the tile into the passage 10 leading to the stack. To be preheated, air is passed through the flue tile 9 from the bottom opening 11 of the recuperator into the divided chambers of the dome, from which it is conducted through the passages 4 to the furnace. The passages 7 constitute a divided passage of a gas main 13 leading from the gas producer in which raw coal gas is formed. The passages 4 and 7 and the waste gas passages 3 are divided by relatively thin walls 14 which provide for exchange of heat between the hot waste gases leaving the furnace and the preheated air and raw coal gas entering the furnace whereby the preheated air passing from the recuperator to the furnace is superheated and the raw coal gas delivered to the furnace is preheated.

The producer gas passages are provided with burner ports or openings 15 through which oil or gas burners may be projected and the openings connecting the gas passages 7 with the superheated air passages 4 are located in the horizontal center line of the air passages leading to the furnace.

In Figs. 4 and 6 of the drawings, the gas main 13 is shown connected to the divided gas passages 7 and as provided with a valve which consists of a baffle member 18 having an oflset passage 19 in the upper portion thereof which passage is controlled by a disk 20 that is secured to a shaft 21 having a lever 22 for rotating the shaft. The bafile structure functions to regulate the volume of raw gas passing to the furnace and by virtue of the off-set valve passage which is located in the upper portion of the stream, the solid particles in the gas will drop oil and accumulate below the passage 19. Covers 23 are provided in the gas main to pro vide access for cleaning out and removing the accumulated particles on either side of the valve.

In the operation of the recuperator furnace, the waste gases from the furnace 1 are 4 conducted through the passage 3 into the checker-work of the recuperator, from which they pass through the stack opening 10. Air is drawn through the flue tile and heated from the tile while passing into the divided chamber 6 of the dome. The air then passes through passages 4 into the furnace 1. The raw coal gases-from the gas producer are conducted through the main 13 to the divided passage 7 in which they are heated by the waste gas leaving the furnace, there being a relatively thin partition wall dividing the waste gas passage and the raw gas passage. The gas then enters the horizontal portion of the air passage 4 in which it is enveloped and commingled with the superheated air before entering the melting furnace by the narrow gas opening into the air passage. Within the portion of the communicating opening between the gas and air passages, the gas passing into the air line will be thoroughly intermingled with the preheated air and thereby reheated before entering the furnace. This is very advantageous since combustion is greatly facilitated and the raw coal gases are effectively and efliciently consumed.

The volume of gas entering the furnace is controlled by regulation of the valve 20 in the baflie structure 18. By virtue of the cylindricalv passageway in the bafiie plate 18, and relatively small opening in comparison with the large diameter of the gas main, the velocity of the gas keeps the passage free from soot or other impurities which may be contained in the raw coal gas, this being a frequent source of trouble with types of gas regulating devices heretofore employed.

It is evident from the foregoing description of this invention that recuperator furnaces employing gaseous fuels may be constructed in a manner to preheat or increase the temperature of the raw gas and to efiiciently preheat and superheat the air passing to the furnace to aid in the combustion of the fuel in the furnace chamber and increase flame temperature.

Although one embodiment of the invention has been herein illustrated and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the details of construction without departing tor, a plurality of preheated air passages disposed on opposite sides of said waste gas pas- 2. In combination with a furnace of a recuperator structure, a waste gas passage leading from said furnace to said recuperator, a plurality of preheated air passages disposed on opposite sides of said waste gas passage, and passages adjacent said air and waste passages for preheating raw fuel gases passing to the furnace, said air and fuel gas passages being of substantially the full length of said waste gas passage.

3. In combination with a furnace of a. recuperator structure, a center waste gas passage leading from said furnace to said recuperator, a plurality of preheated air passages disposed on opposite sides of said waste gas passage, and passages adjacent said air and waste passages for preheating raw fuel gases passing to the furnace, said last named passages terminating in said air passages whereby the fuel gases are enveloped by the preheated air from the recuperator before passing into the furnace.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 7 day of February, 1929.

WILLIAM A. MORTON.

sage, and passages adjacent said air and waste passages for preheating raw fuel gases passing to the furnace. 

